Dolphins Demonstrate Shell Tool Use in Australian Waters
Researchers in Queensland, Australia captured the first evidence of bottlenose dolphins using empty seashells to catch fish, a behavior called shelling. The footage shows dolphins herding fish into shells, lifting the shells to the surface, and shaking them to drain prey, with a calf imitating its mother, suggesting maternal social transmission. The findings extend the known range of shelling to the east coast and indicate sophisticated tool use and learning in dolphins, highlighting the need for further study.